CT Day Trips Worth Doing
Since Hartford is practically in the middle of the state, it makes it a central location for day trips. Let’s face it, CT is a small state, but there’s still so much to do and everything is only about an hour away (making it the perfect day trippin’ distance). Some of our favorite day trips to take in CT are to the Mystic Seaport and Aquarium, Kent, and Lyman Orchards.
Pizza and Sharks in Mystic
If you’ve ever seen the movie Mystic Pizza, then you know how incredible their pizza is (yes, it’s as good in person as it looks in the movie). But Mystic has more than just some great pizza. You could spend the whole day just wandering around – from seeing (and touching) sea animals at the aquarium, to seeing one of the largest collections of maritime photography in the country at Seaport. Of course, you have to finish the trip with a stop at Mystic Pizza. It truly is ‘A Slice of Heaven!’
Croppin’ at Lyman Orchards
Pack your family, friends, neighbors (really anyone) in your car and head to Lyman Orchards for a day full of good ol’ fashion fun, filled with lots of fresh fruits and baked goods. Almost any time of the year (besides winter of course) you can go out in the Lyman fields and pick your own fruits. If you’re not sure about how the crop is, just call the 24-hour hotline and they’ll tell you the up-to-the-minute crop and field conditions, varieties, and market prices.
After picking as much fruit as you possibly can, head to the main building to shop for some baked goods. Their Apple Pie was voted 2015 “Best Pie: Farm/Orchard” by Connecticut Magazine… and trust us it’s out of this world.
PLUS, throughout August 3rd-27th, the orchard offers it’s ‘Lyman Orchards Sunflower Maze’, with more than 350,000 red and yellow sunflowers. It. is. incredible.
Beer and Hikes in Kent
Kent is a small town almost straight west of Hartford, right at the New York border. It’s a little over an hour from Hartford, but it’s worth the drive for this day trip. The ride alone is beautiful, and once you get in the area, check out Kent’s surrounding towns, they’re each so unique.
Kent Falls
Kent is known for its lush natural beauty. Go for a hike up Kent Falls (and maybe even take a quick dip if no one’s looking), or picnic and grill at the bottom at one of the tables and BBQ stations.
Lake Waramaug State Park
Lake Waramaug State Park is another great picnic spot. It has a breathtaking lake which is a bit off the beaten path (which means no cell phone service… but that’s just another reason to love this place). If you have the time, take a drive around the lake and look at all the surrounding homes – they’re incredible.
Kent Falls Brewing Company
Before you leave Kent make sure you stop at Kent Falls Brewing Company, just down the road from Lake Waramaug. The brewery is located on Camps Road Farm which has been in continuous agricultural use for over 250 years. They have 1 acre of hops and an acre and a half of cider apples (soon to be used for cider). They also have free range chickens for eggs and poultry, and pasture-raised pork; all of which they sell in their small farm shop. Saturdays at 2PM they run farm tours which we highly recommend; they talk about their land, crops, animals, energy, waste and much more.
Recently, the brewing company opened a tasting room in one of their barns. The barn is filled with barrels of different fermenting beers and has a warm rustic feel to it. Oh, and did we mention the beer is AMAZING? Even for non-beer lovers, there is bound to be one you will love. Some of our favorites include Fallow, Blueberry v Blackberry, and Semblance (but honestly, they are all amazing).
And their labeling is just … on point.
